When Matt Ryan first stepped into the recording studio to bring Edward Kenway to life in 2013, the process felt like wearing a muzzle with a camera bolted to his face. Now, over a decade later, returning to the same role for Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced has reminded him why he fell in love with performance capture in the first place. The actor recently shared his experience with TechRadar Gaming at a preview event in Paris, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at how the matt ryan performance capture journey has evolved since the original game launched.
How Matt Ryan Performance Capture Return Highlights Industry Evolution
When Ryan first recorded Edward Kenway’s movements and dialogue back in 2012 or early 2013, the technology required him to wear what he described as a “big contraption” strapped to his head. A camera sat directly in front of his face, and the entire setup was uncomfortable enough to leave him with a throbbing headache after each session. He compared the experience to a dog forced to wear a muzzle, which captures the claustrophobic feeling of early performance capture rigs.
Fast forward to 2024, and the matt ryan performance capture experience looks entirely different. The equipment has shrunk dramatically. The cameras are smaller, lighter, and far less intrusive. The head rig no longer feels like a cage. Ryan noted that this time around, the process felt much more comfortable, which allowed him to focus entirely on his performance rather than on fighting against the hardware strapped to his body.
This shift is not just about comfort. When an actor feels physically at ease, their emotional range expands. They can cry, laugh, whisper, or shout without worrying that a sudden movement will knock the camera out of alignment. For Ryan, this meant he could sink deeper into Edward Kenway’s character than he could during the original recording sessions fourteen years ago.
The Specific Technical Changes That Made a Difference
Early performance capture systems relied on helmet-mounted cameras that weighed several pounds. The counterbalance system dug into the actor’s shoulders, and the whole apparatus restricted head movement considerably. Modern setups use lightweight headbands or small adhesive markers placed directly on the face. Some studios have even moved to markerless facial capture, where high-resolution cameras track micro-expressions without any physical contact at all.
Ryan did not go into specific technical specifications during the interview, but his description of “having a big contraption” versus “feeling comfortable” tracks with what the industry has documented over the past decade. The amount of data captured has also increased. A typical performance capture stage now uses somewhere between 60 and 120 cameras, depending on the studio’s setup, whereas the original Black Flag likely used a smaller array with fewer angles for facial detail.
This evolution matters because video game characters have grown more expressive. Players expect to see every flicker of emotion on a character’s face. The technology had to catch up to that expectation, and it has.
Why Revisiting Performance Capture Reinvigorated Matt Ryan’s Love for the Medium
Ryan admitted that he had not done any performance capture work since finishing the original Black Flag. His career kept him busy with other voice roles, theater projects, and live-action work, so performance capture simply fell off his radar. He remembered telling people at the time how much he enjoyed the process, but he never had the chance to return to it.
When Ubisoft approached him about Black Flag Resynced, he said yes immediately. Stepping back onto the performance capture stage after such a long gap brought an unexpected emotional response. Ryan described the experience as having “reinvigorated” his love for that medium. He rediscovered what made performance capture so special to him in the first place.
The Unique Creative Freedom of Performance Capture
Part of what Ryan loves about performance capture is the freedom it gives an actor. In live theater, you project to the back row. In film, you hit a specific mark for the camera. In performance capture, you move naturally as the character would move. The technology tracks you wherever you go within the capture volume. There is no need to fake a gesture or adjust your posture for the camera angle. You simply exist as the character in a three-dimensional space.
Ryan praised the performances and games that the medium has produced over the years. He sees performance capture as a distinct art form that sits somewhere between theater, film, and animation. It borrows elements from all three but creates something that none of them can achieve on their own. The actor’s entire physical presence gets preserved and translated into the digital character, which is why Ryan pushes back so strongly against the term “voice actor.”
Why “Voice Actor” Is a Misleading Title for Performance Capture Performers
Ryan did not hold back when discussing the terminology that the industry uses. He stated plainly that actors in video games are not just voice actors. They are actors who happen to work in a video game. The distinction matters because it changes how the industry values the performer’s contribution.
“I think that the industry has changed, but the media hasn’t, because it’s still called ‘voice actors,'” Ryan said. “But they’re not just voice actors, they’re actors in a video game.” He believes that the terminology needs to catch up to the reality of the work. When you watch a cutscene in a modern game like Black Flag Resynced, you are seeing an actor’s full physical performance, not just their vocal cords at work.
Ryan pointed out that players can recognize an actor even when the character looks completely different from how the actor appears in real life. You feel the whole physical presence of that person. The way Edward Kenway stands, walks, gestures during dialogue, and reacts to danger all come from Ryan’s body, not just his voice box. That is the essence of performance capture.
How the Industry Perceives Performance Capture Actors
The gaming industry has slowly started to recognize performance capture actors during award seasons. Several major award shows now include categories for “Best Performance” rather than just “Best Voice Acting.” This shift reflects what Ryan described. The actor’s body, face, and voice all contribute equally to the final performance. Separating them artificially does not serve the art form.
For aspiring performers who want to break into video games, Ryan’s perspective offers a useful reality check. If you only train your voice, you are only preparing for half the job. Modern game acting requires physical training, emotional availability, and the ability to repeat precise movements while delivering emotionally charged dialogue. It is closer to stage acting than to voice-over work in many ways.
The Mental Discipline of Not Dwelling on Legacy
When asked whether he thinks about how Edward Kenway will be remembered in gaming history, Ryan gave an answer that reveals a grounded professional mindset. He does not dwell on external outcomes. He focuses on the work in front of him. “You just can’t think externally like that,” he explained.
Ryan drew a comparison to his experience playing John Constantine. When he landed that role, he started reading the comics and immediately felt the weight of the character. Constantine means a great deal to a passionate fanbase. Ryan had to actively push that thought aside to do his job properly. The same principle applied when he returned to Edward Kenway for the remake. He told himself not to think, “Oh, I have to be as good as I was.” That kind of thinking only creates pressure and kills spontaneity.
“At the end of the day, you’re there to serve a story, to serve a character, to serve a director’s vision, and you do that, and you try not to think too much,” Ryan said. This philosophy keeps him grounded. He prepares as thoroughly as he can, then trusts his instincts during the actual performance.
What This Means for Returning to a Beloved Role After Many Years
For actors who revisit characters after long gaps, the danger is trying to replicate the original performance exactly. Ryan avoids this trap by treating each session as a fresh opportunity. He does not compare himself to what he did fourteen years ago. He asks what the character needs in this moment, with this director, in this scene. The result is a performance that feels alive rather than imitative.
This approach also benefits the final product. Fans who loved Edward Kenway in the original Black Flag will notice subtle differences in the remake. Ryan’s voice may have matured slightly. His physical movements may carry different weight. These changes are not flaws. They reflect an actor who has lived another fourteen years of life and brings that experience back to the character.
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What Performance Capture Actually Looks Like for an Actor on Set
For readers who have never seen a performance capture session, the setup can look strange at first glance. The actor wears a tight-fitting suit covered in small reflective markers. These markers allow the cameras to track every joint and limb movement. On the face, tiny dots or a lightweight head rig capture expressions. The actor performs on a soundstage that often looks like an empty warehouse with minimal props.
The actor must imagine the environment. There is no ship deck, no ocean spray, no enemy soldiers charging toward them. There is only a blank stage and a director describing what exists in the digital world. This requires a special kind of imagination and concentration. Ryan compared it to theater work, where you must create the world through your body and voice alone.
Early sessions often feel awkward because actors are not used to performing in a sterile environment with cameras everywhere. Ryan’s first experience in 2013 included all that discomfort plus a heavy head rig that gave him headaches. The modern setup eliminates much of that friction, which is why he described the recent sessions as far more enjoyable.
The Physical Toll of Performance Capture on Actors
Even with improved equipment, performance capture remains physically demanding. A single session can last several hours. Actors repeat scenes multiple times from different angles or with different emotional intensities. They crawl, climb, fight, and fall during action sequences. By the end of a long day, the body aches in ways that studio voice recording never causes.
Ryan did not complain about this physical toll. He actually seemed to appreciate it. The physicality of performance capture is part of what makes it feel like real acting to him. You earn the performance through your body, not just through your vocal cords. That distinction matters to someone who views himself as an actor first and foremost.
What Black Flag Resynced Means for Players and the Gaming Industry
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is scheduled to launch on July 9 for PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC. The remake promises updated visuals, improved performance capture, and refinements to gameplay mechanics that have aged since the 2013 original. For players who loved the first game, this is a chance to experience Edward Kenway’s story with modern production values.
For the industry, the remake represents a trend that has become increasingly common over the past five years. Studios are revisiting beloved titles from the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 era and giving them the full remaster or remake treatment. The key difference in Black Flag Resynced is that Ubisopt brought the original actor back to re-record and re-perform the role rather than simply upscaling the old assets.
That decision makes a significant difference. Ryan’s performance in the remake will carry the emotional nuances that only a returning actor can provide. He knows Edward Kenway better than anyone. He has lived with the character for over a decade. That familiarity translates into a richer, more layered performance than what fans heard in 2013.
How the Remake Debate Connects to Performance Capture
Some gamers question whether remakes are necessary when the original games remain playable. That debate overlooks something important. A remake like Black Flag Resynced is not just about better graphics. It is about preserving and improving a performance that the original technology could not fully capture. The character of Edward Kenway deserved the best possible recording tools, and in 2013, those tools did not exist at the level they do today.
This remake gives Ryan the chance to do justice to his own work with better equipment. It is not a cash grab. It is an artistic do-over that benefits from a decade of technological progress.
The Broader Significance of Performance Capture in Modern Gaming
The evolution of matt ryan performance capture between 2013 and 2024 mirrors the evolution of the entire industry. Games are no longer judged solely by their gameplay or graphics. Players expect cinematic performances that rival what they see in film and television. The actor’s craft matters more now than it ever has in gaming history.
Ryan’s experience underscores a truth that the industry is still learning. The person inside the performance capture suit is not a technician pushing buttons. They are an actor bringing a character to life. The technology exists to serve that performance, not the other way around. When the equipment causes headaches and discomfort, the performance suffers. When the technology fades into the background, the actor can do what they do best.
As more studios invest in performance capture and more actors like Ryan return to roles they originated, the quality of video game storytelling will continue to rise. Players get better performances. Actors get to explore characters with more depth. The medium itself gets taken more seriously as an art form. That is the real legacy of matt ryan performance capture work on Black Flag Resynced, and it is a legacy that extends far beyond one game.
